Journal Article

A Review of Psychological Distress Among University Students: Pervasiveness, Implications and Potential Points of Intervention

Theiler, Stephen, Sharp, Jessica

2018

Overview

A review of literature from the past 30 years establishes psychological distress as both a longstanding and current issue affecting university students worldwide. Poorer academic outcomes and problematic health behaviours are linked to students’ distress, and these wider implications also highlight the need for appropriate policies and services to support students during what is clearly a challenging time. Further review identified various socio-demographic, situational and academic factors as potential bases of students’ distress. Undoubtedly, the demands of the university lifestyle are inherently stressful; yet experiencing these as distressing is not inevitable. Rather, a review of links between university students’ psychological attributes and psychological distress indicates such attributes might be ideal points of intervention to ensure students are best equipped to manage the stressors of university, and greater attention in this area is recommended.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Academic Achievement / Anxiety Disorders / Attributes / Behavior problems / College Science / College Students / Colleges & universities / Counseling Services / Counselor Evaluation / Demography / Depression (Psychology) / Educational Trends / Evaluation Research / Guidance Centers / Health Behavior / Health problems / Health status / Higher Education / Influence of Technology / Intervention / Lifestyles / Literature reviews / Mental Health / Mental health services / National Surveys / Psychological Characteristics / Psychological distress / Psychological Evaluation / Psychological Services / Questionnaires / Sociodemographics / State Surveys / Stress / Student Characteristics / Time / University students / World Problems